A new enlargement review published by the LGBTQIA+ advocacy organisation ILGA-Europe and regional network ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey warns that several countries seeking membership of the European Union are experiencing a significant deterioration in the protection of LGBTI rights.
Tag: Balkan
European Parliament approves new regulation to upgrade cross-border railway capacity coordination
The European Parliament has given its final approval to the Regulation on the Use of Railway Infrastructure Capacity in the Single European Railway Area, a landmark decision set to transform rail transport across the continent.
PARIS | Boulevard de Sébastopol – Tour Saint-Jacques – Institut du monde arabe – Le Remontalou – Coulée verte René-Dumont & Viaduc des Arts – Place de la Bastille – Rue Pierre Seel – Hôtel de Ville – Rue des Mauvais-Garçons – Place des Vosges
On Thursday 11 December 2025, six months after opening and one month after closing on 11 January 2026, I travelled to Paris in France for the ‘Le mystère Cléopâtre‘ or ‘The Cleopatra Mystery‘ exhibition at the Institut du monde arabe (Institute of the Arab World). An excuse to visit the Light City, even if it…
2026: Invisible?
August 2025. While staying at the Radisson Collection Astorija in Vilnius in Lithuania, we want to order something from the breakfast menu. But the table next to us, populated by a ‘very present’ group of eight or ten people gets priority. They’re treated as being important.
Antwerp Pride Parade 2025 with 90 delegations, a new starting point and a code of conduct
The 18th edition (since 2008) of Antwerp Pride takes place from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 August 2025 in Antwerp. This year’s theme is “Do not just march! Listen. Understand. Commit”. Prides are a mix of celebration – parties – and activism and advocacy. For the 2025 edition, the organising committee focuses on belonging. Belonging…
How gay friendly are trending travel destinations Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina with Republika Srpska, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine?
ILGA-Europe published its ‘LGBTI Enlargement Review‘ for global mega election year 2024, looking at the state of affairs regarding the protection of LGBTQIA+ people and their equality of human rights compared to their straight friends, family and neighbours in ten countries who want to join the European Union. These countries are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,…
GREECE | Athens 2023
During a lovely dinner in February 2023, Steve, Philippe and I decided to visit Athens during the – Catholic – Easter Holiday. As I was lucky to have the full Easter weekend – Saturday, Sunday and Monday – off, I booked flights and a room. Steve and Philippe arrived in the capital of Greece two…
How gay friendly are trending travel destinations Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine?
ILGA-Europe published its ‘LGBTI Enlargement Review‘ for 2023, looking at the state of affairs regarding the protection of LGBTQIA+ people and their equality of human rights compared to their straight friends, family and neighbours in ten countries who want to join the European Union. These countries are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro,…
ANTWERP | Red Star Line Museum of (e)migration
January 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic is still very present, as are coronavirus countermeasures. Museums are open though. So I found it appropriate to visit the Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp. The subjects? The Red Star Line, migration and emigration, travel and hygiene and diseases. Topical, don’t you think?
Six not too obvious cities to discover
Where next? We have been travelling together since 2013. Together or separately, we have fallen under the charm of some cities we didn’t expect to.